NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — A man linked to a violent robbery crew that targets patrons leaving Manhattan bars and clubs has been charged with causing the fatal overdose deaths of two victims, authorities said Thursday.
Kenwood Allen, 33, has been arrested and charged in the deaths of Ardijan Berisha, 26, on July 30, and Nurbu Sherpa, 29, on March 18, officials said,
In five different incidents from March to October, according to the Manhattan District Attorney's Office, Allen drugged his victims with fentanyl after they had spent the evenings out at bars before robbing them of their watches, credit cards and cell phones. In some instances, he left his overdose victims on the street.
Allen is charged with two counts of second-degree murder, three counts of first-degree robbery, two counts of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, one count of second-degree robbery and two counts of second-degree assault.
“Nobody should have to worry that a night out at a Manhattan bar with friends could end in tragedy," Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said in a statement. "This murder indictment is the result of a long-term and ongoing investigation with our law enforcement partners to keep our city safe. We are continuing to aggressively uncover all of the facts in this case and are in touch with community leaders and elected officials."
While the New York Post reported that some of the people targeted were patrons at gay bars, NYPD Chief of Detectives James Essig said at a press briefing Thursday that their motive is "based solely on monetary gain."
"We believe that the perpetrators are targeting individuals that are coming out of the bars late at night because they’re intoxicated," NYPD Lt. Dave Leonardo said.
The robbery crew's drugging and robbing scheme has targeted more than two dozen victims since March and has resulted in five possible fatal overdoses, Essig said.
"They're approaching them offering them narcotics," Leonardo said. "At this point, based on our lab investigation, it looks like our narcotic is laced with multiple narcotics that were purchased over the black web, and then made into a cocktail."
Leonardo said the mixture was a combination of cocaine, fentanyl and lidocaine, adding that investigators believe "lidocaine is what really had the effect of incapacitating these people."
Police also arrested a second suspect but have not named that person.
Essing said that at least five crew members have been identified and the investigation is ongoing.
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